The Contradictions of Being a Makeup Artist

I’m a walking contradiction. I’m a professional makeup artist who relies on women to seek out and pay for what society says they should “fix.” I walk a very fine line between two truths; women really don’t need the majority of what big, conglomerate, multi-billion dollar companies say they need and that they need my expertise as a makeup artist to help them understand how to choose and apply what these companies want to sell to them.

How do I find the balance between being raised by a hippie, feminist mother who chooses not to wear cosmetics and as an international, celebrity makeup artist living in Manhattan? On good days, I feel like a walking contradiction that is passionate about my clients and loves being a professional makeup artist and on bad days, I feel like a fraud who sides with conglomerate cosmetic companies.

I consider myself a strong, independent, intelligent woman but I wouldn’t be caught dead without my eyebrows filled in, two coats of mascara, and both an under eye corrector and concealer! I identify with my clients though; I want to look and feel beautiful without all the effort and products that we are told that we need to feel beautiful.

As I get older, I find that I want that one day a week without makeup, that it’s ok to give my skin a break—that there’s something empowering to looking in the mirror sans makeup and saying to myself that I’m beautiful, just as I am, sparse eyebrows and all. I find it funny that I spent my youth trying to learn all the tips and tricks of applying the cosmetics and skincare that would make me feel beautiful and empowered and now, at 35, I find the empowering moments happen when I’m standing in front of my bathroom mirror, without makeup, repeating to myself “I’m beautiful.”

I like to say that my best client is an educated woman. I teach every woman the secret to beautiful, natural looking makeup is to have moisturized skin and there’s nothing more important than educating yourself on the ingredients in the skincare and makeup; I even have an “Ingredient of the Week” Facebook post explaining a specific ingredient. I’m giving her the tools and confidence to say no to the endless parade of products that cosmetic companies market; I want her to be educated to make really good choices about what works best for her.

I love that moment when I’m teaching a personal makeup lesson class and she has that “light bulb” moment of understanding. I’m teaching my clients to not need me. It’s the moment my client feels empowered; it’s the moment I can see that she feels strong and can take care of herself.

About Laura Mitchell

International and celebrity makeup artist Laura Mitchell has been doing makeup for 8 years, the past 6 in NY, NY. Laura has worked lead make up artist on editorial shoots, print ad campagns, commercials, webisodes, TV and film, as well as multiple musicians/bands music videos, album covers, and press shots. She has worked for multiple makeup lines for multiple designers during New York Fashion Week since 2009.

Laura has a thriving headshots and bridal make-up business.

Laura’s signature clean, flawless, and natural looks are what sets her apart and is why she’s been successful. Laura’s caring “touch” and her ability to really understand what her client’s want is the key to her success. She can be reached at http://mitchellmakeup.com.

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For most of my life, I didn’t understand beauty. We all have different definitions, and it is truly in the eye of the beholder. You don’t just “beautify”, you educate and empower, and that makes you even more beautiful.